Expanding closing capsule for bottles and other containers



Oct. 1, 1935. w. FALTLHAUSER 5, EXPANDING CLOSING CAPSULE FOR BOTTLES AND OTHER CONTAINERS I Filed May 24, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 1, 1935. w FALTLHAUSER 2,015,846

EXPANDING CLOSING CAPSULE FOR'BOTTLES AND OTHER CONTAINERS Filed May' 24, 1932' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jn verzio'r':

Patented Oct. 1, 1935 PATENT OFFICE CLOSING CAPSULE FOR 'BOT- TLES AND OTHER CONTAINERS wiuy Faltlhauser, Munich, Germany r Application May 24, 1932, Serial No. 613,241

In Germany September 25, 1930 6 Claims.

Closing devices or capsules for bottles and other containers in which the capsule isexpanded in applying or removing the same and closed .to seal the container are already known.

These closing devices are, in most cases, made to consist of the capsule proper provided with claws, a packing disk between the capsule and the upper edge of the head of the container and a clamping ring adapted to be placed over the claws of-the capsule to prevent accidental openin thereof.

Ithas, however, been ascertained that the closing devices are not always tight, particu- 4 larly in cases where the closure is subjected to pressure frbm within the container. The cause thereof may be traced to the construction of the capsule, as well as of the packing disk and of the clamping ring.

It is an object of the present invention to over--.

2 come these drawbacks and to provide a closure for bottles and other containers, adapted to remain tight even when subjected to considerable pressure from within.

Another object is to provide a novel form of 25 closure for bottles orother containers which may be readily applied and removed without the use of special tools.

A further object is to provide a capsule having a packing therein and-so formed that the pack- 1 30 ing is held in close proximity to the neck of the container when pressure is applied to the, capsule from within the container. a

. Another object of the invention is to provide a closure for bottles or other containers that are 35 formed with a cylindrical neck having-a shoulder adjacent the top thereof which closure is formed with an annular depression in alignment with the a the same and prevent removal thereof without. 45 destroying or defacing the ring and tofprovidei a capsule having claws and means to prevent flexing thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide 3 a, receptacle formedto receive and hold a closure 60 thereon and provided with means to prevent displacement of the retaining ring after it has been applied to the closure. 1 I and otherobjects and featuresof the invention will appear from the following description thereof in which reference is made to the typical forms of the invention illustrated in the drawings by way pf example. \In the drawings Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of a bottle head provided with a capsule in accordance with 5 a preferred form of the invention, whilst Fig. 2 represents a section on an enlarged scale througha portion of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are side views of preferred forms 1 of the capsule.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the form of capsule shown in- Fig. 4- taken on the line V-V.

Figs. 6 and '7 are plan views of preferred forms 15' of the capsule.

Figs. 8,9, 10 and 11 are side views partly in section of various forms of clamping ring which may be employed.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the form of clamping ring illustrated in Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view of a portion of a bandof material used in producing the form of clamping ring illustrated in Fig. 8.

Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate forms of the present invention applied to metallic receptacles.

In the drawings the numeral I represents a bottle head provided with a-shoulder adjacent the top thereof. The capsule shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a cover part 2 extending across the top of the bottle. The outer edges thereofare turned downwardly'substantially vertically and formed with slots 9 extending nearly to the top of the downwardly-turned portion. The lower extremities of thefldownwardly-extending portions are turned sharply'inward fonning a plurality of claws 4 adapted to engage beneath the shoulder on the bottle or container to hold the closure in place. The center of the coverpart is bowed upwardly above the periphery 40 thereof when the capsule is in its "closed position with the claws engaging the lower portion of the shoulder on the container but can be flexed downwardly so that the center of the cover part is below the periphery in order to 4 .o'r downward, causing the claws l to be forcibly opened or forcibly to engage the shoulder of the bottle or container. v 'Ihe capsule is preferably formed of relatively flexible metal or othermaterial capable of being readily flexed and the shows an embossed ridge I in section to illustrate the manner in which/the claws are strengthened. The cover part 2 is normally of greater diameter than the top of the bottle so that a space is provided between the upper part of the claws 4 and the top of the bottle as shown in Fig. 2 for purposes explained more fully hereafter. I

In order to prevent accidental opening of the claws during shippingand storage of the containers and to prevent blow ofis due to excessively high pressure within the bottle a clamping or safety ring 3 surrounding the claws 4 is'provided.

. In accordance with the present invention the cover part 2 is provided with an accentuated annular groove or depression 5 extending downward and situated adjacent the outer edge of the cover part adjacent the periphery thereof and in alignment with the neck of the container as shown in Fig. 2. The grooved portion of the cover part bears against the upper surface of a suitable packing or washer 22 positioned within the capsule and 'serves to force the washer tightly against the top of the bottle or container to seal the same. effectively. Since the force with which the cover part of the capsule bears against the washer 22 is applied to only a very limited annular area of the washer, a relatively high pressure per unit of area is obtained, and therefore it will be apparent that an effective seal is produced with the application of a relatively small force such as that applied by the upward spring thrust of the center of the capsule which holds the claws 4 beneath the shoulderand forces'the groove 5 against the packing and the top of the neck of the container.

It will beapparent that upon flexing the upwardly bowed center portion of the capsule to apply or remove the same the. diameter thereof is increased as the center is forced through the plane of the periphery of the capsule. Theannular depression 5 of the capsule facilitates this- .expansion of the center portion due to the slight outward bending .of the inner wall of the depressed portion and the resultant narrowing of the annular groove. .Because of this construction of the annular depression which renders flexing of the center portion of the capsule relatively easy, it is possible to make the capsule of heavier material than would otherwise be possible, and as a result the strength of the claws 4 is considerably greater than in previous spring caps of this general type, so-that blow oifs due to straightening out of the claws are decreased. This feature of the invention also renders .it

possible to construct closures of this 'type for bottles and other containers having necks of relatively small diameter since the central porthe shoulder on the neck of the container. I

Thecover part of this capsule may also! the claws 4 by means of machines.

provided with indentations 8 placed opposite the slots 9 between the claws 4 and adjacent the groove 5. Owing to the disposition of these indentations the depressing of the center of the cover part and with it the expansionv or closing 5 of the claws 4will be facilitated. Instead of the indentations the cover part may 'be.scratched beside the groove or crease 5 as indicated at "I in Fig. '7.

The clamping ring -3 already referred to pref- 10 erably consists of metal and may be made from a band or tube. In accordance with the present invention this ring is preferably reinforced at its edges, sothat it may be made from very thin material, yetpossess sufllcient stiffness to be applied by means of machines. The reinforcements may be formed by flanging and folding over the edgesof the ring, as has been indicated at H in Figs. 8 to 11. The ring 3 may be formed with a strip or band of metal 13, one end of which serves as a tearing flap l4 and is narrower than the remainder of the band. The portion of the band adjacent the tearing flap constitutes an overlap when the band is formed into a ring and is provided with teeth l2 on the edges of the band between the tearing flap l4 .and the band proper as shown in Figs; 8 and 13. The edges of the band are then folded over the teeth l2 securing the band in the form of a ring. The teeth l2 dig into the folded edges of the band and in some instances may themselves be.-folded over with V the edge of the band forming a secure bond preventing severing of the band or displacement of the end thereof when the band is placed under tension. l5 represents perforations close to the teeth l2, rendering it' possible to tear open the ring by means of the tearing 'flap l4 so that the claws 4 may be opened and the cap released by depressing the cover part 2 thereof. When producing the ring, the band I3 may be wound twice, 40

. so that a double ring is formed, the outer annular part of which l6 (Fig. 9) is engaged by the flanges .flap, terminates a short distance from the instrength in spite of the thin material from which they are made, so that they may be slipped over Owing to the resistance to the application of the retaining ring offered by the members or projections 6. 6' or I the ring engages the claws 4 of the capsule firmly, thus insuring firm application of the capsule to the head of the container land deep penetration of the groove or crease 5 into thethin pacldng disk or washer 22 (Fig. 2). When.

- slipping the ring over the claws 4 the projections 6 'or I thereon cause a partial distortion of the ring as shown at 3' in Fig. 1 and in some instances small grooves may be formed in the inner wall of the ring by the stiffening projec- V without the use of the flap the ring will a reduction in the diameter of the capsule.

be so deformed or disfigured by the strengthen ing projections that it cannot again be employed and therefore the retaining ring also serves as a safeguard for the manufacturer, preventing adulteration or substitution of the contents of the container. a

In using the capsule described above the cover I part 2 is depressed so that the claws 4 spring open or expand and the capsule is applied to the bottle or container to be sealed. The periphery of the capsule is then pressed downwardly, causing the center of the cover part 2 to snap up and the claws 4 thereby close firmly beneath the shoulder on the bottle, holding the capsule in place and forcing the packing tightly against the top of the neck of the container. In this-way, the capsule may be readily removed'and replaced as often as desired without the use of any tools or opening instruments. When being shipped or stored the ring is forced over the claws after they have been closed, andthe ring is readily removed thereafter by means of the tearing flap I 4. With the construction described above, as soon as an inner excess pressure is produced, .as-may occur when contents of the container are heated or undergo fermentation after sealing, the center of the cover part 2 tends to bend upwardly or bulge as shown in Fig. 2. However, since the metal or material of which the capsule is made is notelastic, that is, it does not stretch appreciably, the bulging of the cover part is accompanied by The -periphery of the cover part and the groove 5 thereon are therefore drawn inwardly, and since the clawsl are substantially rigid, they are moved inwardly aboutthe outer corner of the shoulder on the container as a pivot so cthat the periphery of the capsule and the groove or depression 5 assume a position somewhat like that indicated by the dottedlines in Fig. 2. In this way the packing disk or washer 22 is pressed against the top of the bottle or container with greater force as the pressure within the container increases,

, thus preventing escape of the gases or contents lease the cap as pressure increases. A, It will also apparent that the construction of the bottle.

As shown in Fig. 2, the upper portion of the neck of the container above the shoulder which the tongues of the cap engage is of reduced cross section and tapers toward the top permitting free inward. movement of the tongues about the outer edge of the shoulder on the neck when the periphery of the cap is drawn inward by the t .bulging of the central portion of the cap due to internal pressure. The location of the annular groove or depression on the cap with respect to the shoulder on the neck of the receptacle is such that inward movement of the claws about the outer edge of the shoulder as a pivot causes the groove to move. inwardly and downwardly in an arcuate path intersecting the topic! the neckofthe receptacle, thereby drawing the groove and packing tighter against the top and insuring proper sealing oithe receptacle under conditions of considerable internalpressufe.

Furthermore, the con'structionfshown avoids the possibility of engagement of theclaws with any por tion oi? the ,neck.above the shoulderabout which it moves as a pivot. so that inward movement of the upper ends of the claws doesnot result in outward movement of the lower engaging portions thereof, which would tend to re illustrated permitslimited inward movement or the. ,claws due to the application of the clamping ring so that the outstanding projections I on the claws continually are urged into engagement with the ring. This construction prevents loosening of the ring due to expansion and contraction of the ring or cap with changes in temperature or due to limited stretching of the ring as a result of jarring or long application thereof.

It will be apparent, of course, that the operation of the capsule in producing a tight seal for the container when under pressure is largely independent of the operation of the clamping ring, and therefore these features of the present invention may be employed effectively in constructions in which no clamping ring is employed. It

- will be understood, however, that theclamping ring enables the closure to be used to seal containers in which considerably higher pressures are encountered.

Figs. 14 and 15 represent two different containers made from sheet metal closed by a capsule in accordance with the present invention.

From the drawings it will be seen how an un-' intentional removal of the clamping ring in a downward direction is prevented by ashoulder 23 provided on the container. Ina similar way 25 the" projection or second shoulder 23 formed on the bottle as shown in Fig. 1 serves to limit the downward movement of the clamping ring 3 when forced over the claws 4 of the capsule illustrated" therein.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as applied to preferred forms of capsules or closures it will be evident that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments thereof herein set. forth since the principle of construction and operation thereof are also applicable to other forms and typesv of closur and closure etements.

'I claim: 1. A closure for bottles and other containers having in combination a capsulemrovided with a claws adapted to secure the capsule to the con- 'tainer, a packing disk within the capsule, a clamping ring made from a metal band and adapted to be slipped over the claws of the expanding capsule, said clamping ring being thinwalled and formed withteeth on the, portion of the band from which the clamping ring is formed, the clamping rin'g being folded along'the clamping ring made of metal adapted to be I slipped over the claws of the capsule, consisting oil a band of material the ends of which overlap and are secured together by means of a folded part, and a tearing flap on one end of the band for tearing open the clamping ririgffor the pur- 13086 of removing the capsule. .r

3. A closure for a bottle or other container comprising an upper circular member, holding claws secured thereto and adapted to engage with a projection on the container, reinforcing means formed on said claws to prevent flexing thereof, said reinforcing means comprising integralput- ,ward embossin'gs formed on said claws, and a ring movable into position to. engage said embossings to prevent expanding'oi said claws.

4. A member for securingaclosure upon a 'bottle or other container comprising a band ofmetal formed into a. ring with anroverlapping' portion and provided with'a iolded portion on the edge of the bend adjacent the overlapping portion 01' the band to secure the samevin the form ,of a. ring.

5. A member for securing a closure upon a bottle or other container comprising a. band of metal formed into a, ring with an overlapping portion and provided with a folded portion on the edge of theband adjacent the overlapping portion of the band to secure the same in the form of a. ring and means carried by said band 'fo severing the ring.

6i A member for securing a. closure on a. bottle or other container comprising a band of metal formed into a ring with an overlapping portion, a

fold on the edge of the band engaging the overlapping portion thereof to secure the band in the form of a ring, a tearing fiap' formed on the overlapping portion of the band, said band being provided with perforations in the overlapping portion facilitating tearing of the band to permit removal of the closure.

WILLY FALTLHAUSER. 

